Cop-forming mechanism for spinning-mules.



G. 0. HAWKINS. I 00]? FORMING MECHANISM PORS-PINNING MULES.

' APPLIQATION FILED JUNE 15,1908. 1,088,071 Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

L 4 SHEETS-B11331 1.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY:

COLUMBIA 'PLANQGRAPH (30-, WASHINGTON, D. c.

G. 0. HAWKINS. COP FORMING MECHANISM FOR SPINNING MULES.

ABPLIOAITION FILED JUNE 15,1908.

088,071 Patented Feb. 24, 191i 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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53 Q\' I K: "Q I I I E I. I l l I LA I III I I I I I v I WITNESSES: INVEN TOR.

I I I I ATTOIRNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANOQRAPH c0..wAsHlNaTON. D. c.

G. c. HAWKINS. GOP FORMING MECHANISM FOR SPINNING MULES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15,1908.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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WITNESSESi i I I M74 0 M 6. MM

ATTORNEY.

G. 0. HAWKINS. GOP FORMING MECHANISM FOR SPINNING MULES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15,1908.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

IEEEEW 4 SHEETS-BHBET 4.

W/ I I i I l Ml 4 g INVENTOR. By @10 MW ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTQE.

GARDNER G. HAWKINS, OF WINTHROP, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES I6.LANNING, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COP-FORMING MECHANISM FOR SPINNING-MULES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GARDNER C. TTAW KINS, citizen of the United States,and resident of Winthrop, Massachusetts, Suffolk county, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Cop-Forming Mechanism forSpinning-Mules, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spinning mules and more especially to thatpart of the mechanism of a spinning mule which has relation to theforming or building of the cop.

As is well known it is desirable to build the cops of yarn in a greatvariety of ways and shapes and in the standard type of mule now in usethis is accomplished by means of a movable and adjustable copping railarranged upon the floor in such a manner as to engage mechanism on thecarriage so as to control the position and movements of the windingtaller.

In my present invention the copping rail is entirely dispensed with andthe whole mechanism for actuating and controlling the taller is mountedupon and carried by the mule carriage and one of the features of theinvention consists in the combination with the taller of a rotary camwhich by its rotation governs the movement of the winding taller onsuccessive traverses of the carriage and means tor shifting said cam tovary its relation to and action upon the taller upon successivetraverses of the car riage.

Another principal feature of the invention resides in the mechanisminterposed between the cop building cam and the taller which is madeautomatically adjustable upon successive traverses of the carriage so asto vary the initial position of the taller during the winding operation.

Another important feature consists in the combination with the tallermechanism of a special device actuated by the descent ot the tallermechanism to locking position whereby the starting of the carriagerunning in and the winding mechanism is made to depend directly upon themovement of the taller mechanism into operative position.

These and other features of the invention will be more particularlydescribed in the tollowing specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation ofthe Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 15, 1908.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

Serial No. 438,484.

mule carriage showing the taller wires and the mechanism for regulatingthe same. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, a portion of the mechanismbeing shown in section. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the cop buildingmechanism. Fig. 4 is a vertical section at right angles to the plane 0tFig. 3 show ing the electrical contact members. Fig. 5 is a plan viewshowing in detail the means for making the electrical contact when thetaller is lowered. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing theelectrical contacts separated, the parts of the sectional arm beingdisengaged. Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing the intermittent motionby which the adjustment of the taller regulating arm is secured. Fig. 8is a detail view in central section of the click motion for actuatingthe taller pulling down tape.

In the accompanying drawings those parts of the mule not directlyconcerned with or necessary to a correct understanding of the presentinvention have been omitted. The mule carriage a mounted upon the wheelsa is of any suitable construction for supporting the necessary mechanismand is provided with the usual standards a having upward extensions (4for carrying the hearings in which are supported the taller shaft 7) andthe counter taller shaft o The taller arm 6 and the counter taller Z)are of the usual sickle shape and support the taller wire I) and thecounter taller wire 6 which extend lengthwise ot the carriage.

The means for pulling down or depressing the taller arms 6 may be of anysuitable construction and in this case comprise a click latch devicecomprising a rotary pulley 0 provided with a click latch 0 the pulleybeing mounted on the cylindrical hub or hollow stud 0 of the hanger orstandard 0 which forms a support and bearing for the tin roller shaft 0.Splined to the tin roller shaft is a ratchet wheel in position to beengaged by the click pawl 0 when the shaft is turning from lett to rightbut which is thrown out of engagement when the shatt is turning fromright to left which is the direction of rotation of the shatt 0 duringthe spinning and winding operations, the latch or pawl 0 being thrownout or in by means of the spring friction strap a in a well knownmanner. By mounting the pulley or wheel 0 carrying the click latch 6upon the extension of the bracket 0 I avoid wear between the drum shaftand said wheel during the winding and spinning operation since the wheel0 is in'motion only during the backing olt. This intermittently movableclick latch wheel 0 torms a cylindrical sheave upon which is wound aflexible metallic tape 0 secured to a sector arm a, which sector arm ismade tast upon the taller shatt 6. Consequently atter the spinningoperation is completed when the carriage comes to rest at the end of thestretch and the tin drum shatt has been reversed for backing ott thecoarsely pitched spirals of yarn trom the spindle, the winding up otthis tape 0 upon the sheave or pulley c operates through the sector arm0 to de press or swing down the taller arm 6 this movement obviouslyoccurring at the same time as does the backing off of the yarn.

One of the features ot this invention consists in providing mechanism bywhich an interlocking connection is made between the descending tallerarm and its regulating device. In this case the regulator by which theposition of the taller wire is controlled consists essentially of anelongated tapered cam cl upon which rests a roller cl which is carriedby a sliding arm (Z said sliding arm being mounted to slide verticallyin a groove or channel formed in the rigid standard f that is supportedupon the carriage. Obviously the rotation of the cam will cause theroller cl and the slide (Z to rise or tall according as the roller ridesover the high or the low parts of the cam and by suitable connectionsbetween the slide (Z and the taller arm a corresponding movement can beimparted to the taller arm so as to give it the necessary rising andfalling motions at any predetermined time.

In order to form the desired engagement between the sliding arm ormember d and the taller, I provide a depending arm or member d which issupported in a pivoted lever (Z by means of a universal joint connection(F, the other end of said lever d (having a jointed connection with anarm at secured to the taller shaft 2) so that the oscillation ot thelever 6Z imparts a similar oscillation to the taller shatt to lower orraise the taller wire. Obviously it the member (Z is provided with a pinor other device arranged to interlock with or engage the member (Z thesetwo parts will move as one and the vertical movement of the roller (5and member d will be communicated to the taller arm. One ot the featuresof the present invention however, consists in making this engagementbetween these twomembers (l d of the taller actuating shatt,automatically adjustable so that the two members when interlocked willtorm not only a connecting means between the builder cam (Z and thetaller shatt, but will also form an automatically extensible oradjustable con nection, since, it, upon each traverse ot the carriage,this arm is slightlv elongated, the taller wire will start slightlyhigher with each traverse and will finish its chase at a slightly higherpoint 011 each traverse which is necessary to the proper building of acop.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed to accomplish this intermittentand consecutive lengthening of the connection between the cop buildingcam and the taller shaft. The device which I have herein illustrated torthis purpose is constructed as follows: The slide (Z is provided with anoffset lug d forming a bearing support tor a screw threaded shaft 6, theupper end of said shatt being tree to slide vertically in a loosebearing f formed on the standard f. A vertically movable traveler or nutc has engagement with the screw threaded shaft 6, so that, by therotation of the shaft e, the nut is caused to travel in the verticalslide way, or groove formed in the standard This traveling nut. ecarries a hollow projecting pin 6 which projects beyond the face of thenut e and forms one member of the locking device. The depending member(1 is provided with a recess or socket (Z adapted to receive theprojecting end of the cooperating pin 6 when these two parts are broughtinto alinement. soas to interlock the nut e and the arm d To ettect thisinterlocking of the pin with its socket, two things are requisite;first, the member (Z must be so guided in its vertical movement that itssocket d will arrive opposite to the pin 6 and, second, the pin must bepushed toward the socket or vice versa, the socketed member toward thepin. The guiding ot the member, d is effected by providing the nut awith projecting lugs 6 arranged on either side of the member (23 toprevent lateral displacement of the interlocking members with relationto each other. In the second place, the depending arm (Z is normallypressed against the nut e by means of the tension spring (Z but itsforward and back movement is controlled by a star wheel 9, whosefunction and operation will be later described. The lever (Z is alsoprovided with laterally offset guide lugs d, which engage the externallateral faces of the nut or traveler e. The operation of this portion ofthe mechanism is as follows: The sliding member (Z is normally pulleddown so that the roller (5' carried by it is pressed firmly against theperipheral surface of the cam (1, this being accomplished by the springsd. When the taller-arm is pulled down by the tape 6 the member 03descends until its socket (i arrives opposite the locking pin 6 at whichpoint the horizontal lever (Z operates under its spring tension to causean engagement between the socketed member d" and the nut 6'. Since thenut e is firmly connected with the slide 6Z2 by means of the screwthreaded shaft 6, it is clear that in this way the two members (Z and dare locked rigidly together, so as to form a practically continuous arm,having engagement at its lower end with the cam (Z through the roller dand having engagement at its upper end by means of the link connectedwith the faller shaft, so that the vertical movement of this sectionalarm or rod (Z (Z is communicated to the faller shaft to cause the fallerarm to drop when the roller is in contact wi h the lower parts of thecam cl and to rise when the roller is in contact with the higher partsof the cam (Z.

It will be understood that the adjustment of the nut e vertically awayfrom the slide or serves in effect to lengthen or extend the compositeor sectional arm (Z d which may therefore be considered as anautomatically extensible or adjustable means interposed between theactuating cam and the faller, the object of which construction will behereinafter explained Obviously a single rotation of the cam (i willserve first to lower and then to raise the faller wire according to theparticular shape of the cross section of the cam lying immediatelybeneath the cam roller cZ. Hence, it will be assumed that when beginningto build the base of the cop, the cam roller cl rests upon the peripheryof the cam at its small end and that upon successive traverses of thecarriage the cam is shifted axially or longitudinally to bring aslightly larger diameter into contact with the cam roller cl. It will beseen that the initial position of the faller on each successive traverseof the carriage will become gradually higher and higher so as to deliverthe yarn at the proper height or level to form the base of the cop. Byvarying the shape of the cam it will be possible of course to form orbuild a cop base of any desired shape or pitch since the contour of thecam will determine the position of thefaller throughout both the initialposition of the faller before the winding begins, as well as itsrelative movement during the inward traverse of the carriage.

()ne of the features of the invention consists in providing means forshifting the cam axially in order to vary the position and movement ofthe faller mechanism on successive traverses of the carriage. In thiscase the mechanism shown is intended to shift the cam axially one stepat each revolution of the cam, it being understood that the cam makesone complete revolution for each inward. traverse of the carriage, thecam being rotated by means of the gear wheel. c is secured to the camshaft and meshing with the pinion m on the main shaft m of the carriage.The cam cl is mounted to slide longitudinally of its shaft (1 but issplined in the longitudinal spline groove (Z so as to rotate with saidshaft.

Upon the gear wheel d which turns the cam shaft is secured an adjustablepin or stud (Z adapted to engage one end of a pivoted lever h, the otherend of said lever being provided with a dog or latch if to engage aratchet wheel 72 on the screw-threaded shaft h which is adjacent to andparallel with the cam shaft 6 The lever h is normally pressed out ofengagement with the latch by means of the spring h while an adjustablestop screw 72, serves to limit this outward movement of the lever 71. Ateach revolution of the gear (Z the adjustable stud (Z -swings the leverit into operative engagement with the ratchet wheel it against thetension of the spring h and turns said ratchet wheel through a smallarc, the extent of which is determined by the position of the adjustablestud (Z in relation to the center of the gear (Z After the stud d haspassed by the spring 7& re turns the lever 71 to its normal position outof engagement with the ratchet. The intermittently movable shaft 7L2 isscrewthreaded and has engagement with a heavy nut or traveler if havinga forked arm which engages one end of the cam as shown at lb Theintermittent rotation of the shaft 7L causes the arm orvtraveler h tomove longitudinally by an intermittent movement and this arm by means ofits forked engagement with the cam (.2 serves to impart a similarintermittent longitudinal movement to said cam thereby shifting the camaxially relative to the cam roller cZ.

As the chase of the cop, that is the vertical distance betweenthelowermost winding and the highest winding of each layer of yarn, isuniform after the base of the cop has been formed, it is desired thatthe shifting of the cam cZ cease assoon as the base has been completed.To this end I provide an adjustable projecting finger 7&9 arranged toengage the traveler 7L and by its upper inclined face to lift saidtraveler out of engagement with the screw-threaded shaft if so that theshifting movement of the traveler and of the cam (1 shall cease when thecam has reached a tnredetermined longitudinal position. When thistraveler 72 has thus been lifted out of engagement with thescrew-threaded shaft, the rotation of the cam may continue withoutcausing any change of position longitudinally and from that time forwardthe rise and fall of the faller will be uniform throughout thesucceeding traverses of the carriage until the entire cop is completed.A further advantage resulting from this disengagement of the travelerarm if from. the feed shaft 72/ consists in the abilitv to return thecam to its initial position without consuming the time required to runit back to initial position by reversely turning the feed shaft 71, byhand, since when the traveler is freed from the feed shaft 72, it isfree to be pushed back to initial position and there once more droppedinto engagement with the feed shaft.

Although after the completion of the cop, the chase or vertical heightof the yarn wound on the cop on each successive traverse is uniformnevertheless it is necessary that each successive layer of yarn on thecop from this point should begin at a. slightly greater height on thecop and terminate at a slightly greater height. This object is at tainedby means of the continued automatic lengthening of the extensible arm (Zwhich forms the connecting means between the rotating cam (Z and thefaller mechanism as alreadv described. Inasmuch as this lengthening othe connecting arm (Z (Z is accomplished intermittently on successivetraverses of the carriage I have chosen to operate the adjustingmechanism therefor by means of the intermittently rotatable shaft if bymeans which I will now describe. On this shaft IL2 is a bevel gear 71which engages a bevel gear g on the vertical shaft which carries at itsupper end a large gear 9 meshing with the pinion g on the vertical shaft9 which carries at its top a star wheel 9. The star wheel shaft gcarries a pinion inter-meshing with a long pinion e on the screwthreadedshaft 6 so that each intermittent movement of the shaft 7L which occurson each successive inward traverse of the carriage is communicatedthrough the several gears and shafts secured to this long pinion e andthe shaft 6 to give a corresponding step-by-step or intermittentmovement to the nut e".

The star wheel 9 is so adjusted that upon its rotation the points of thestar act upon the end of a horizontal lever (Z to throw said lever outor away from the nut 6 so as to disengage the member (Z from theprojecting pin 6 carried by the nut c. This disengagement and separationof the interlocking members (Z (Z of the bootleg arm allows the fallerto rise under the influence of its usual tension spring. A slightfurther rotation of the star wheel brings a notched or recessed portionof its periphery opposite the end of the lever (Z so that the lever (Zis free to move in again when the faller is pulled down to position withits socket ust opposite the locking pin 6 The pinion e is elongated inorder to afford a continuous engagement with its driving pinion on theshaft g without interfering with the necessary vertical movement of theshaft 6.

Itis important that the mechanism for running in the carriage andwinding the yarn should begin as soon as the faller actu-. atingmechanism is locked in operative position but it is also of vitalimportance that these operations should not commence until that lookingengagement is effected. In order to fully meet these conditions Iprovide an arrangement which may be utilized in any suitable manner forstarting the carriage running in mechanism and the winding mechanism. Tothis end I have arranged two electrodes 0 and 0 in the two interlockingmembers of the faller actuating mechanism in such a way that the properinterlocking of these parts necessarily brings these electrodes incontact whereby an electric circuit may be closed for energizing properelectrical apparatus or magnets for starting the carriage on its inwardt "averse to wind on the yarn. Such for example as are'shown anddescribed in my companion application Serial No. 438,460 filed of evendate herewith. As this carriage driving and other mechanism forms thesubject matter of my other said application, no attempt has been made toshow the details of construction and arrangement. It will suffice forpresent purpose merely to show how the electrical circuit which controlsthe carriage and other movements is opened and closed by the operationof the faller mechanism.

As the details of mechanism by which the carriage is started form nopart of the present invention, since any suitable electromagnet startingapparatus may be used for this purpose, I have shown only the means bywhich an electric circuit may be closed for such a purpose. Theelectrode 0 is carried through the hollow or tubular pin 0 from which itis insulated by a wrapper or bushing of suitable insulating material asshown at 0. In a similar manner the electrode 0 carried by the member dis supported in and insulated from that member by means of a similarinsulating bushing 0. The two electrodes or contact pins 0 0 arearranged so as to exactly aline and form a firm contact when the memberd is interlocked with the nut 0. Obviously the moment these members areproperly interlocked to control and regulate the faller mechanism, atthe same instant an electric circuit is closed which may be utilized insetting in operation the mechanism for running in the carriage.

IVhat I claim is 1. In a spinning mule the combination of the mulecarriage, the winding faller, the tapered cam for actuating the faller,and means for adjusting said cam axially upon successive traverses ofthe carriage to vary the movement of the winding faller, and means forrendering said cam-adjusting means inoperative when the base of the cophas been completed, substantially as described.

2. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingfaller, a 1'0- tary cam, means interposed between the cam and thewinding faller to actuate the faller as the cam rotates, and means forintermittently shifting the rotary cam to vary the initial position ofthe faller upon successive traverses of the carriage, and means fordisengaging the shifting means from the cam at a predetermined stage inthe building of the cop, substantially as described.

3. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingfaller, a tapered cam mounted on the carriage, and an automaticextensible arm forming the connection between the tapered cam and thewinding faller to regulate the movement of said faller in order to formthe cop, an adjusting screw actuated by the cam shaft for lengtheningsaid extensible arm, substantially as described.

a. In a spinning mule the combination of a mule carriage, the windingfaller, the building cam, an arm actuated by said cam for actuating thefaller shaft, a feed shaft, a traveling nut arranged thereon andprovided with an arm for engaging said cam to shift it longitudinally,and means for disengaging said arm from its operative con nectionbetween the feed shaft and the cam at a predetermined stage in thebuilding of the cop, substantially as described.

5. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingfaller, an actuating cam therefor, a feed screw, and a traveling nutthereon having engagement with said cam to shift the same longitudinallyduring the building of the cop, and means for automatically disengagingthe nut from its actuating screw.

6. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingfaller, an actuating cam therefor, means for shifting said camautomatically upon successive traverses of the carriage to properly formthe base of the cop, means for rendering the shifting mechanisminoperative after the base of the cop is completed, and means forvarying the initial position of the winding faller for successivetraverses of the carriage after the cam shifting mechanism has ceased tooperate, substantially as described.

7. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingfaller, an actuating cam mounted on the carriage, a sliding memberengaged by and actuated by said cam, an interlocking member connectedwith the winding faller, and adjustable interlocking means for formingan interlocking engagement between said members.

8. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingfaller, an actuating cam therefor mounted on the carriage, connectingmeans between the cam and said winding faller, said connecting meanscomprising interlocking members, and means for adjusting said membersrelatively to each other in order to vary the initial position of thefaller upon successive traverses of the carriage.

9. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingfaller, an actuating cam therefor mounted on said carriage, a camengaging member, a link or arm connected with the winding faller, anadjustable device carried by said cam actuated member and arranged toform a locking engagement with said link or arm, and means for shiftingsaid adjustable device automatically upon successive traverses of thecarriage, substantially as described.

10. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingfaller, means for pulling down the winding faller preparatory tobuilding the cop, a rotary cop building cam mounted on the carriage,interlocking members interposed between said cam and the winding faller,and adjustable means for forming an interlocking engagement between saidmembers when the faller has descended to its appropriate initialposition.

11. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingfaller, an actuating cam therefor mounted on the carriage, a link or armconnected with the winding faller to control its movement, a movablemember having operative engagement with said cam, and a traveling nutadjustably mounted on said cam engaging member to form an interlockingengagement with said arm or link, and an intermittently actuated screwshaft arranged to engage and actuate said traveling nut to adjust itsposit-ion on the cam actuated mem ber, substantially as described.

12. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingfaller, a retary cam mounted on the carriage for actuating said faller,a feed shaft, means operatively connecting the feed shaft with the camfor shifting the cam axially upon suecessive movements of the carriageand means for disengaging the operative connection between the feedshaft and the cam at a predetermined position, substantially as described.

13. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingfaller, a retary cam for actuating the same during the winding on of theyarn, means for shifting said cam longitudinally to bring differentportions of its periphery into operative position, and means forautomatically disengaging the shifting mechanism after a predeterminedperiod in order to permit the cam therefor to remain in the sameoperative position upon successive traverses of the carriage.

14. A cop forming mechanism embracing in combination, the rotary copforming cam, a feed shaft, a traveling arm having engagement with saidfeed shaft to cause it to travel longitudinally, said arm havingengagement with said cam to move said cam longitudinally, and means torreleasing said arm trom its engagement with the teed shatt,substantially as described.

15. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingtaller, taller actuating mechanism comprising interlocking members, andmeans whereby the starting ot the carriage is effected by and dependentupon the interlocking of said members, substantially as described.

16. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage. the windingtaller, taller actuating mechanism for controlling and actuating thetaller, and electric conductors arranged to be brought into contact witheach other by the taller mechanism to close a circuit controlling thecarriage driving mechanism, substantially as described,

17. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingtaller, a cop tormer for building the cop, means tor locking the tallerin operative relationship to said cop former, said locking means beingprovided with electrodes which are brought into contact thereby tor thepurpose of cansing the carriage driving and the winding mechanism to beset in operation, substantially as described.

18. In a spinning mule the combination of the mule carriage, the windingtaller, cop building mechanism tor controlling the winding taller, and adevice tor controlling the carriage driving mechanism, said controllerbeing connected with the taller actuating mechanism whereby it isrendered operative by the movement of said taller actuating mechanism.

19. In a spinning mule the combination of a mule carriage, the windingtaller, cop building mechanism by which the winding taller iscontrolled, electrical conductors tor carrying a circuit by which thecarriage driving mechamsm is controlled, the terminals of such circuitbeing connected with the taller actuating mechanism by which the openingand closing of said controlling circuit is governed by the movement ofthe taller mechanism substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification.

GARDNER C. HAWKINS.

In the presence ot Gno. N. GODDARD, KATHARINE A. DUGAN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner 01 Patentn. Washington, D. C."

